I grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania – the state’s third largest city. It shares a history similar to South Bend’s. Once an epicenter of silk manufacturing, it was filled with bustling industry and thriving economy. But like many other mid-sized cities, Allentown experienced tough times as American industry shifted to overseas production. Chances are, if you’ve heard of Allentown, you know of it as the economically depressed image immortalized by Billy Joel’s song, “Allentown.” The lyrics paint a dire picture of the greater metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley:
“Well we’re living here in Allentown/
And they’re closing all the factories down/
Out in Bethlehem they’re killing time/
Filling out forms/
Standing in line.”
And they’re closing all the factories down/
Out in Bethlehem they’re killing time/
Filling out forms/
Standing in line.”
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